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NATS CLAIM HYDE OFF BRAVES ROSTER ALSO ADD OLLIE
The Washington Nationals continue to add pitching today claiming lefthander Gary Lee Hyde off the Atlanta Braves roster and optiioned him to AAA-Syracuse.
Hyde, 26, split last season between AA-Mississippi and AAA-Gwinnett, two cities with the most double letters combined -5. He was 2-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 29 games and recorded 8 saves before a July promotion to AAA-Gwinnett where he went 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA in 22 games.
The native of Atlanta, Georgia was the Braves 4th selection in the 2006 June draft by current Nationals Director of Scouting Roy Clark. He missed much of the 2007 season and part of the 2008 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Lee joins lefties Attie Severino, Matt Chico and Ron Villone in the Chiefs camp.
In other news former New York Mets lefthander Oliver Perez signed a minor league contract with the Nationals today and joined them in their minor league complex in Viera, Florida.
Perez, 29, has spent the past two years with the Mets. He has also pitched for the Pirates and will work with his former pitching coach and current Nationals Minor League pitching instructor Spin Williams.
With the Mets paying all of Perez’s 12 million dollar salary this season, the Nationals believe that if Williams can work his magic with the fallen pitcher it will be worth the gamble.
MORE FLORIDA NEWS & NOTES
A few more news and notes from Spring Training 2011 in Florida….
* The last Chiefs pitcher to toss a nine inning no-hitter – Mike Pazik now a scout with the White Sox was seen at Space Coast Stadium taking in Nationals games this week.
* Former Chiefs outfielder Justin Maxwell now with the Yankees has a new batting stance – this time very similar to Alex Rodriguez. Maxwell still in camp with the Yankess has made an impression on manager Joe Girardi and could make the team as an extra outfielder.
* Righthander Ryan Tatusko who came to Syracuse in January for the Chiefs 50th Hot Stove Dinner is turning some heads in Nationals Minor League Camp and could be with the Chiefs in April.
* Infielders a plenty - Nationals have first baseman Chris Marrero, Mike Aubrey and Kevin Barker in minor league camp as well as infielders Seth Bynum, Chris McConnell, Alex Cintron and Matt Antonelli are in the mix for 2B, SS and 3B while Brian Bixler is still batting for a spot at the major league camp.
* Outfielders too - With Corey Brown, Jeff Frazier, Buck Coats, Jonathan Van Every and Boomer Whiting all playing for the AAA club it will be interesting to see if the Nationals send either Nyger Morgan or Roger Bernadina to the Chiefs or possibly both.
* Nats believe Syracuse pitching staff could be really good. Already in minor league camp are JD Martin, Shairon Martis, Garrett Mock, Luis Atilano, Adam Carr, Cole Kimball, Atie Severino.
FLORIDA UPDATE
With Jason Benetti and Kevin Brown back in Syracuse, they have left me to keep you updated on the comings and goings of Spring Training 2011.
* Tigers defeated the Nationals Monday afternoon at Space Coast Stadium 4-2. In the game former Chiefs manager Garth Iorg’s son Cale Iorg doubled in a run and played flawless at shortstop for the Tigers. Look for Cale to begin the season with the Mud Hens.
* Another former Chief’s son, Patrick Leyland, (son of Jim Leyland) caught the final three innings.
* Today (Tuesday) was able to catch the Blue Jays and Phillies in lovely Dunedin, Florida. Phils had most of their starters on hand and former Chiefs Pete Orr and Michael Martinez played in the later innings. Both have a chance to be with the Phillies on opening day after injuries to Chase Utley and Placido Polanco.
* Visted the Chiefs former winter home for 31 years – Englebert Recreational Complex and took in a few innings of their AAA and AA games. Former Chiefs still with Toronto include Doug Davis (Minor League Field Coordinator), Dane Johnson (Minor League Pitching Coordinator), Omar Malave (Gulf Coast League Manager), Jim Czjawski (Pitching Coach at Vancouver-rookie) who was the winning pitcher in the first game ever at then P&C Stadium on April 6th, 1997. Dennis Holmberg will be in Bluefield-rookie and big Sal Fasano will be in AA-New Hamphsire all came over to say hello.
* Former Chiefs outfielder in 2009-10 Leonard Davis is in the Jays camp trying to catch make the AAA-Las Vegas team, closer to his California home.
* Off to Legends Field on Wednesday to see former Chiefs outfielder Justin Maxwell and Chiefs Wall of Famer Ron Guidry who is in camp as an instructor.
Just four weeks until the Home Opener in Syracuse…..
NATS GAMES BEGIN TODAY
The Washington Nationals begin spring training exhibition games this afternoon as the take on the New York Mets in St. Luce, FL. Game time is 1:05 PM with coverage beginning at 1:00 PM on SNY – channel 54 on Time Warner Cable.
Seven former Chiefs players will be in manager Jim Rigglemans lineup that includes:
Nyger Morgan CF
Ian Desmond SS
Roger Bernadina LF
Mike Morse RF
Matt Stairs DH
Wilson Ramos C
Kevin Barker 1B
Danny Espinosa 2B
Jerry Hairiston JR 3B
Chad Gaudin P
The Nationals take on the same New York Mets tomorrow when they open their home slate at Space Coast Stadium at 1:00 PM.
THE THREE GREATEST WORDS
The three greatest words ever – “Pitchers and Catchers”. well at least to a baseball fan they are. The Washington Nationals 2011 edition of pitchers and catchers arrived on Tuesday and we thought that we would take a look at who’s in camp.
From the start it looks like Chien-Ming Wang and Stephen Strasburg will begin the season on the disabled list with Wang expected back in April or May. The Nats also slected two players in the rule 5 draft in December – righthanders Brain Broderick and Elvin Ramirez. Both players have not reached the AAA-level as of yet and would be long shots to make the team.
Starting Pitching: Jim Riggleman named Livan Hernandez the teams Opening Day pitcher with Jordan Zimmermann, Jason Marquis and lefty John Lannan expected to fill out 1-4. The battle for the fifth spot would likely go to Cuban defector Yunesky Maya, who has experience and was the best pitcher in the Domincan Winter League.
Tom Gorzelanny, Chad Gaudin along with Garrett Mock, Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen could also challenge Maya for the final spot as well.
Lefthanded relief pitchers: Sean Burnett and Doug Slaten did a great job for the Nationals last season and will likely be counted on again. Tom Gorzelanny pitched in relief with the Cubs last season and could end up in pen, Atahualpa Severino is the only other lefty on the roster.
Righthanded relief pitchers: Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen also were impressive last season and will battle off-season pick-up Henry Rodriguez for the closers role. Todd Coffey was also signed and has been solid with the Brewers and Reds over the past five seasons. Chad Gaudin, Cla Meredith are veterans while Collin Balester was un-hittable in his September call-up last season.
The Nationals have Garrett Mock, Craig Stammen, Luis Atilano, J.D. Martin, Joe Bisenius, Tim Wood and hard throwers Adam Carr and Cole Kimball also in camp.
Add Sharon Martis, minor league pitcher of the year Tom Milone, Josh Wilkie last season starters Matt Chico and Erik Arnesen and you can see why Chiefs pitching Coach Greg Booker should be excited about the 2011 season.
30 FORMER CHIEFS LISTED AS NON-ROSTER INVITEES
Spring Training is just a week away for pitchers & catchers and with the weather outside less than appealing to the baseball fan we thought we would give you an up-date on former Chiefs listed on major league rosters as non-roster invitees.
A non-roster invitee is not listed on the 40 man roster and usually is assigned numbers in the 60′s or 70′s. He’s usually the first player cut or he is a veteran who waited too long to sign his contract and is desperate for a job.
Anyway, here’s the up-to-the minute list, less of course the parent Washington Nationals:
Boston-Jason Bergmann, Hector Luna
Baltimore-Mark Hendrickson
Detroit-John Bale
Chicago (AL)-Lastings Milledge
Florida-DeWayne Wise
Chicago (NL)-Reed Johnson
Houston-Gustavo Chacin
Los Angeles (AL)-Kevin Melillo
Milwaukee-Zack Segovia
Minnesota-Chase Lambin, Chuck James
Philadelphia-Erik Kratz, Peter Orr
New York (NL)-Mike O’Connor, Russ Adams, Willie Harris
New York (AL)-Gustavo Molina
Tampa Bay-Felipe Lopez, Ray Olmedo
Texas-David Bush, Kevin Cash, Zach Jackson
San Diego-Guillermo Quiroz, Gregg Zaun
Oakland-Vinnie Chulk
Toronto-WilLedezma, Corey Patterson
San Francisco-Brad Eldred
Enjoy Ft. Myers, Florida, Jason Bergmann.
A farewell….
Seven days ’til the Hot Stove. Less than three months ’til Opening Day. 365 days until next January 14th. Time flies. Recently, you saw a blog post scribbled out by Kevin Brown, my new broadcast partner for the upcoming season. I have had several emails since then wondering where Mike Couzens has gone. ”Is he shackled to the wall of a dungeon?,” Joe from Camillus wrote. ”Where is Mike? Has he dedicated his life to only watching Burn Notice, the original series from USA Network?,” asked Jackie from Tully. Neither of those is the case (maybe). Mike is going…..well, I’ll let him tell you. All I will say is that Mike is an extremely talented young broadcaster who has all the potential in the world. Plus, he’s an admirable human being who makes the people he’s around better. He’ll be missed around the park. Here’s Mike…. Thank you very much Jason it’s time to tell our contestants what’s in store on the SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN! What? No game show today? Well then, back to business I suppose. Jackie in Tully, fear not. I have dedicated only a Thanksgiving Day turkey sized portion of my life to watching Burn Notice on the USA Network. Granted, that’s still a rather large portion, but not all of it. And Joe in Camillus, I am no longer in a dungeon…the wi-fi connection was horrible there. Since we last spoke on September 6th of last year, I’ve had a few developments in my life. First, I have graduated from Syracuse University. Believe me, I was surprised they gave me a diploma too. Second, I have accepted a new job in Minor League Baseball. This upcoming season, I will be working as a broadcasting and media relations assistant with the Dayton Dragons, the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, in Dayton, Ohio. I am very excited about this opportunity to not only continue calling baseball, but to work with a great organization that is on the verge of setting a very big record. The Dragons have the opportunity to surpass the Portland Trail Blazers for the most consecutive sellouts in history this year. While I’m going to be working for a team that has a strong fan base, that will certainly be nothing new. Chiefs fans are some of the finest baseball has to offer, and it was a privilege to spend time with you every night from the bone chilling cold of April and May, the simmering heat of June and July, and the warm, relaxing nights of August and September. You know you’re in the thick of baseball season when those trees by the train tracks in left field start to bloom. I have to say thank you to everyone in the front office as well. They’re an incredibly hardworking and tight knit staff that I was very happy to call my baseball family last season. And to Jason, a wonderful broadcasting partner and friend: A big thanks for not just the three hours we shared together on the air every night, but for the time we shared off the air as well. I learned so much from you and I know that Chiefs fans will have a voice to look forward to hearing every night. I’ll be off to Ohio sooner rather than later, but that doesn’t mean our relationship has to end here. To those of you that I met in person, or only spoke to online or over the air, please keep in touch. I would love to hear from you. My email address is mikecouzens@gmail.com All the best, Mike
NATS ADD BARKER AND VALDEZ TO AAA ROSTER
The Washington Nationals continue to bolster their AAA-roster by adding veteran first baseman Kevin Barker and infielder Alex Valdez.
Barker, 35 played three seasons for the Chiefs from 2005-2007 and averaged 20 home runs and 80 RBI during that period. He has played 15 seasons of professional baseball beginning in 1996 and has slugged 260 home runs at the minor league level.
He ranks 8th all-time with 59 home runs as a Chiefs player and 11th with 232 RBI
The Virginia native has played in the International League with Louisville (1998-1999 & 2008-2009), Syracuse (2005-2007), Indianapolis (2000-2001) and Scranton (2004).
Last season he appeared in 80 games with Veracruz of the Mexican League and batted .291 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI.
Valdez, 25, has spent the past seven years with the Oakland Athletics organization after signing as a free agent in 2004.
Last season at AA-Midland he batted .262 with 13 home runs and 74 RBI in 134 games. He appeared in one game for AAA-Sacramento in 2009.
